Mesa Verde National Park

Magnificent historic sites and viewpoints dot the canyons and mesas, including the mysterious cliff-side cities that were inhabited in around 1200 AD and suddenly abandoned in around 1300.

Most of the dwellings are at Chapin Mesa, including the Far View Site and Spruce Tree House. To get an overview of the site, watch the documentary screened at the museum at Chapin Mesa.

Practical Info

Drop into the Far View visitors center to pay for your entry ticket, stop off at Park Point for panoramic views, and follow Mesa Top Road to see sites on top of the mesa and views of inaccessible cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde National Park is on a high plateau south of US Highway 160. The visitor center is an hour’s drive from the nearby town of Cortez.